I've been on my emotional rollercoaster with HPV for about 2 and a half months now. As all of you know some days are better than others, and those great days are worth their weight in gold. But what drives me absolutely insane is when people make a big joke of genital warts. I don't know if other people have this problem...but I've even got friends, obviously not close friends, but friends who use it as a sort of joke or drop things about people who have it and how dirty they are. It's too embarrassing to point out exactly why I'm so passionate about the issue, duh they're talking about me, but it hurts so much. Just today a guy whom I've been talking with brought it up in a joking manner--when I questioned him he said that I didn't have to worry about that. Well--yeah, yeah I do...and I've been doing it every day for the past 2 and a half months. All it takes is that little trigger to send me back weeks in therapy--I'm just wondering if other people are fighting the same battle and what they've done or said in these situations?
Comments:
12/8/2003 10:31:37 PM
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I know how you feel and I think we all do. It's not their fault though, they don't know any better and they dont' know how you feel. Just ignore it as best you can and let it roll off your back...if let these reminders get to you...well that will only lead to stress. And you certainly don't need anymore of that. But yeah, I know how you feel..it hit me hard the first few times too...after that I promised myself it wouldn't bother me again.
12/8/2003 11:10:11 PM
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It was totally crippling for me the first time I was in that situation. The thing is that I'vre realized life hands all of us really brutal situations. Those people that say rude things about GW say them out of total ignorance...at the same time they are/have/will deal with any number of things I am probably ignorant about as well. C'est la vie
12/10/2003 12:36:51 AM
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I think everyone knows how you feel. I do too. People thinks STI's are a big joke and they're not. People who get them are NOT dirty people. We can't help it. It wasn't our fault. We didn't know we were going to get an STI. When we think of a STI we think people are dirty but that's so not true. People don't realize this, until they get one.
12/10/2003 12:36:52 AM
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I think everyone knows how you feel. I do too. People thinks STI's are a big joke and they're not. People who get them are NOT dirty people. We can't help it. It wasn't our fault. We didn't know we were going to get an STI. When we think of a STI we think people are dirty but that's so not true. People don't realize this, until they get one.
12/10/2003 12:42:05 AM
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(cont)
I heard all the jokes about GW and other things. I just want to say, Hey that's really not funny. I just want to run and hide. But you know life goes on. So everyone keep your head up high! We're all going to get through this! Good luck and god bless! =)
12/10/2003 2:04:18 PM
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Sarah
I also know how you feel. I feel dirty and ruined. I've heard jokes about warts too. The problem is that people just don't know how common the virus is. Or that most people will never develop warts from exposure even if they carry it around. No one knows and we suffer the consequences. HIV has taken up so much press and attention, to the exclusion of other much more common STDs.
12/10/2003 10:47:07 PM
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...I'll admit to using "gay" or "retarded" before in a pejoritive way. Now I know way better...
12/11/2003 6:22:43 PM
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I agree with the above. The past few years have opened my eyes to a lot of social issues that I would have had no problem making light of in my youth. At least we realize now that warts, herpes, and any other STDs for that matter, as well as one's sexual orientation, are not things it is okay to joke about...and I'm glad that I won't be the one contributing to any one else's pain through ignorance.
